In this section
you’ll learn more about how to advance in a career and the steps you need to
take to move up a career ladder.
Want to EarnMore?
It’s never too late
or too early to think about better job opportunities and the next step in your
career. With specially trained Career Advancement Coaches
ready to help you reach your goals--why not start today?
To become a part of
the EarnMore Career Advancement
Program you must be:
✓ 18 years of age or older
✓ Currently working with no periods of unemployment within the
past six months
✓ Making $14.00 or less per hour
✓ Excited about advancement!
With the
EarnMore
program, you’ll have access to
free education and training programs that
can fit into your work schedule, financial
counseling to show you how to stretch
your income, access to free and low-cost health insurance and other benefits,
and much more!
As a part of the program you’ll also receive:
✓ A $75 gift
certificate for completing a qualifying training program
✓ Up to 6 months free monthly MetroCards after you achieve
your Career Advancement Goal!
Sound like the program you’ve been waiting for? Visit one of our sites today!
Workforce1 Career Center
215 W. 125th Street, 6th Floor
New York, NY 10027
[PDF] Download a brochure
|
GMHC
The Match Program
119 West 24th Street, 11th Floor
New York, NY 10011
[PDF] Download a brochure
|
Henry Street Settlement
Workforce Development Center
99 Essex Street, 3rd Floor
New York, NY 10002
[PDF] Download a brochure
|
Citizens Advice Bureau
391 W. 149th Street
Bronx, NY 10455
[PDF] Download a brochure
|
Pay Raise and Promotion Negotiation Toolkit
How do I
ask for a raise?
Asking your boss for a raise
can be an uncomfortable and sometimes disappointing conversation. However, if
you prepare yourself for this conversation and ask your boss at the right time,
you may be very happy with the possible results – a raise! These same
techniques can be applied if you are considering asking your boss for a
promotion.
- First, ask yourself some questions.
- Why do I deserve
more money? Have I separated myself from
the crowd by doing outstanding work?
Keep in mind that you can “earn” advancement prior to asking for a
raise. You will be valued by your
employer if you:
- Show up on time everyday.
- Consistently do the best job you can do.
- Are willing to learn and take direction.
- Maintain a positive attitude.
- Is there more work that needs to be done? Am I willing
to take on added responsibility? The
most positive way to approach your boss is to ask for more work and
responsibility and link that to a pay raise.
- Keep your eyes open for new opportunities.
- Offer to pitch in when more work needs to be done.
Enthusiasm and strong work ethic stand out!
- Find out if you
need more training or skills. If you do,
figure out how to acquire them.
- If I were my
boss, would I give an employee like me a raise?
Put yourself in your boss’s shoes.
What would s/he think of the situation?
- Do I value this employee?
- Is the company doing well enough to afford a pay increase?
- Do I have the power to give this employee a raise? If
not, why should I 'go to bat' for this employee?
- Is this a good time to ask? Consider:
- Does the company normally offer wage increases at a certain time of year? You don’t want to ask for a raise just before
you’re going to get one.
- How long have I been at the job? Your employer is more
likely to consider your case if you’ve demonstrated your value to the company
for at least a year.
- What is my boss’s mood? If your boss is preoccupied, it
will hurt your chances of success. For
example, if you work in retail, you don't want to ask for a raise in December
when your employer is focused on servicing customers during this busy time of
year.
-
Who do I
ask? Follow the chain of command when
asking for a pay raise. For example, if your immediate boss is a supervisor,
don't go over your boss's head to the department manager. Instead, approach
your immediate boss first and let him/her tell you the next step.
- Request a meeting
Once you’ve considered these
questions and are confident that you have a strong case, ask for a face-to-face
meeting with your boss to discuss your 'development.' It’s best not to mention that you’re seeking
a raise. If you say you want to ask for
more money, your boss is likely to say no there and then—or to warn you that
the answer will be no—and you've lost the chance to present your position
properly.
If you are nervous about
asking for a meeting in person, here’s a sample letter:
Dear [Name]:
Can we please meet to discuss
my role and development? I’d appreciate
your advice.
Please let me know a time and
date that suits you.
Best wishes,
[Your Name]
- Prepare for the meeting.
You need to prepare your case
so that you can present it clearly and professionally. Arm yourself with factual information. Simple planning makes a big difference!
- Review the answers to the questions you’ve already asked yourself and write them down.
- Make a list of all your recent accomplishments that lead you to believe you deserve a pay
raise.
- Do your research
and find out how much people doing your job with a similar level of experience
and skills are getting paid. You can
find average wage amounts on www.careeronestop.org.
- Determine the
amount of the raise you will ask for based on your experience, skills and
recent accomplishments.
- At the meeting:
- Remember: you are trying to build a case, not make a
request. Present your case unemotionally
and professionally, and provide your employer with as much objective
information as you can.
- Avoid focusing on
what you want. Instead, explain what
your employer gets in return for increasing your salary. Emphasize what you have done and are prepared
to do for the company. Sell your
accomplishments and your willingness to do more!
- Offer your boss
options: Ask for more work or
responsibility in exchange for more money.
Mention that you’re willing to get more skills or training if you need
them.
- Think twice about threatening to quit if you don't get a pay raise, as it rarely works.
- Remember that the worst thing that can happen is that you're told no, but you will have
positively demonstrated your ambition and work drive, which is good for your
record.
- After the meeting:
If you are successful,
congratulations! It’s a good idea to
personally thank any immediate supervisor who helped you or spoke on your
behalf.
If you are unsuccessful:
- Ask for reasons
why and consider them carefully. A 'no'
response isn’t necessarily your fault. There
may be a lot of reasons a raise is not an option – for example there may not be
room in the budget, or there may be policies regarding wage limits for certain
positions.
- Ask what will
qualify you for a pay raise in the future and what the timeframe is. Follow up.
- In the end, you
must decide if you think the company's position is right and fair. At the very least, you will have gained some
valuable skills, including negotiation, self-evaluation and improved
communication.
- Remember that you
may not succeed with your first attempt, but there will be a next time. Try to
schedule time with your manager or boss to come up with new goals for the next
year. There is no time like the present
to start making your case for a future pay raise, so go for it!
